Weed Invasion

The first European people traversed the Belair area in 1837. In 1840, Governor Gawler raised a government farm on which horses could be rested from escorting gold transports from the Victorian goldfields.and bullocks from government departments could be agisted. In 1881, a proposal was put forward for small agricultural holdings and also, the national park was dedicated, making it the first National Park in South Australia. Many exotic and non-indigenous plants were introduced and are now found in the park as weeds. Numerous native plants, such as Acacia longifolia, Pittisporum undulatum and Hakea laurina, have become environmental weeds after being introduced into areas outside their natural range.The Belair National Park has suffered major disturbance to its natural ecosystems and natural vegetation communities through the accidental invasion of non-indigenous plants as well as the deliberate introduction of exotic and non-indigenous plants to certain zones within the park.

View a 4 page brochure of Environmental weeds of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, published by the Department for Environment and Water.

Bushcare by our Volunteers

On this page we show the results of work done by Volunteers, before and after the removal of unwanted weeds. To help with the management of this large park it has been divided up into Vegetation Management Units (VMU). VMU locations can be seen in this Map.

Monthly Morning Tea at the Green Shed .... NEW in 2019

This year we have decided to do morning teas on a predictable regular basis instead of ad hoc close to birthdays as they occur. We will now have morning tea at the Green Shed once a month, following the last working bee of each month. This will fall either on a Tuesday or a Friday, giving an occasion for all to attend even if they only come once a week or infrequently as their situation allows. We welcome you to come to morning tea for a little bit of socializing, even if you haven’t been to bushcare that day. Included too are those of you who work in Adopt-a-Blocks. Come along on any of the following dates, 10.30 am, at the Green Shed, share a cuppa and a chat with all of us caring for the native bush in Belair National Park

· . March: Friday 29th · . April: Tuesday 30th · . May: Friday 31st · . June: Friday 28th · . July: Tuesday 30th · . August: Friday 30th · . September: Friday 27th · . October: Tuesday 29th · . November: Friday 29th